Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with diarrhea and weight loss diagnosed with Dicrocoelium
By Oehm, Andreas W et al.·Published in Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports·2023·Institute of Parasitology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case report: Infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in a Japanese Chin dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Japanese Chin was brought to the vet because it had diarrhea and was losing weight. Tests showed that the dog was infected with a type of parasite called Dicrocoelium dendriticum, which is usually found in the bile ducts of herbivores. The vet treated the dog with a medication called praziquantel over several days, and after increasing the dosage, the dog's diarrhea cleared up, and it started to gain weight again. This case highlights the importance of considering certain parasites in dogs that show ongoing gastrointestinal issues.
People also search for: dog diarrhea treatment · Japanese Chin weight loss · praziquantel for dog parasites
Abstract
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a trematode colonising the bile ducts of herbivores. Coproscopic findings in dogs are usually considered gastrointestinal passages of eggs after ingestion of unheated liver tissue or infected ruminant faeces. Here, a Japanese Chin presented with diarrhoea and weight loss. Eggs comparable to D. dendriticum were detected in faeces and infection was confirmed via PCR and by ruling out differential diagnoses. Egg excretion continued for a period of 10 months. Praziquantel (50 mg/kg body weight [BW]) was administered orally for four consecutive days. Egg excretion 10 days after treatment entailed further treatments with 100 mg/kg BW, again for four days. Faecal samples were negative ten days and four weeks afterwards, diarrhoea resolved, and the dog gained weight. In cases of repeated coproscopic positivity for D. dendriticum, an infection with dogs acting as definitive hosts should be considered. Treatment with praziquantel at a higher dosage may be required.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37935534/